In My Kitchen, September 2013

September and Spring already! It’s such a lovely feeling to see the back of winter.

In my kitchen I have a very special balsamic vinegar given to me by Tania. In Tania’s blog posts she often mentions different types of balsamic vinegars and I have often felt like a Philistine by comparison in that my humble balsamic is often a brew from the very ordinary supermarket. I would comment on Tania’s posts that I desired a more up-market vinegar and when we recently caught up for lunch, she blessed me with this very special drop. I can’t wait to use it.

Very special balsamic vinegar from Tania

In my kitchen I have been blessed with some of Celia’s tempered chocolates. She made me a golden ticket that has almonds in it. I have had to guard this bar with my life as it has been a sense of intrigue and ever-hopeful glances that it might be bestowed upon the one who gazed upon it. No such luck – I put this aside for our Father’s Day dinner.

A golden ticket from Celia

Celia also made me some Drambuie soaked figs covered in dark chocolate. These will put hairs on your chest! We enjoyed these after today’s 12km hike. (More on that later).

Celia’s Drambuie soaked figs in dark tempered chocolate

In my kitchen I have some Momofuku cookies. These are compost cookies and were made for me by Lorraine late one night before we met for lunch. These cookies have a wonderful crunch and I would have sworn the crunch came from something like cornflakes but can you believe, it was from corn chips. I would never have guessed. And don’t you just love Lorraine’s presentation with the gorgeous ribbon!

Lorraine’s Momofuku compost cookies – a taste of surprises

In my kitchen is Alfie. Book week was last Thursday and as you know, we had an unfortunate dress rehearsal. After that false alarm we managed to turn up on the right day and Alfie went as Bear Grylls from his book, Mud, Sweat and Tears. Note the ‘mud’ on the face that came from Arabella’s make-up box.

My Bear Grylls

In my kitchen I have (had) a cake. I made three 20cm coconut cakes that I leveled into a height of 20cms to give me a cube. I secured the cake with skewers then covered the cake in a white chocolate butter cream. I rolled out black icing (making sure not to use too much icing sugar as it ruins the black colour) and used the cake tin to measure out a 20cm square. I placed this on top of the cake then piped icing around the edges.

A Pac-man cube cake

The cake was for a 50th birthday party with an 80’s theme. The client wanted a Pac-man so I made little Pac-man figures to put on top of the black icing that I secured with edible glue. I made little eyes for the Pac-man figures then made an extra quantity of white chocolate butter cream to serve with the cake. I’m sorry the photo of the cake is so appalling. I wanted to take photos using my proper camera but the client came to collect it earlier than expected and there was no time for a photo shoot.

And that’s what’s been happening at Hotly Spiced headquarters. If you’d like to do an ‘In My Kitchen’ post, be sure to link up with Celia.

I’m jealous of the wonders in your kitchen as mine is very pedestrian and boring, though I did rescue a fruit bowl which had repeating elements of spoon, knife and fork forming the bowl from my mom’s kitchen which I hope to start filling with gorgeous fruit.

I wonder where Celia found the mold for that golden ticket. And, of course, there’s a unique item in your kitchen which can never be replicated … the incomparable Alfie.

What I would give to have s glass of wine with you in your kitchen; it’s always such a hub of activity. The cake looks gorgeous, I do remember Pac Man so very well. And Alfie is absolutely adorable.
When I read about your spring it saddens me because I know our winter I’d fast approaching.

Charlie, what an amazing cake, I think you make the best cakes ever! The golden ticket bar actually had Tania’s hazelnut chocolate in it (the crunch was from feuilletine), and I’m glad you actually got to eat some of the chocolates this time! It was fabulous to catch up the other day! xx

S nice to have such lovely and generous friends Charlie! And with such great taste too from the look of those goodies 🙂
Gorgeous cake, the 80’s really seem to be back in don’t they? I must say I was glad when they were over, especially the fashion! xox

I love your “in my kitchen” posts. You’ve always got something interesting going on that I find interesting. That Pac Man cake is rally special. You have such talent with cakes, Charlie. Each one is always my new favorite. That little guy Alfie makes a wonderful Bear Grylls. I do hope he had fun!

Charlie, buying a bottle of balsamic vinegar is like investing in expensive perfume — worth every ounce. (I don’t happen to wear perfume, so I splurge on balsamic!) Alfie is definitely a kitchen essential. Fun IMK post!

A great IMK post, Charlie. I hope that Golden Ticket made it to Father’s Day. You must have kept in under lock and key. Alfie finally got to be Bear Grylls and I bet he was happy. That Pac-man cake looks fantastic. Black frosting? How cool is that? 🙂

I love the sound of those figs. We have fresh figs just coming ripe in our garden, and soaking them in alcohol sounds like a great solution to the question of what to make with them! (I’m no expert on figs and their uses…)

And I’m going to have to google to see what a compost cookie is, it sounds intriguing (but looks tasty!)

G’day Charlie! I’m coming to your kitchen, true!
LOVE balsamic vinegar and can’t WAIT to try one of Celia’s chockies too!
Pac man was one of the first games I played, so your cake brought a smile to my face today! Cheers! Viewed as part of IMK Joanne